In this article, we will list the Harvard University Stock Portfolio: Top 5 Stock Picks. Please visit Harvard University Stock Portfolio: Top 10 Stock Picks if you’d like to see the extended list and the methodology behind it.
5. Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 106
Harvard Management Company’s Stake: $141.39 Million
Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) is among the Harvard University Stock Portfolio: Top 10 Stock Picks.
On April 24, 2026, Citi raised its price target on Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) from $285 to $307 while maintaining a Buy rating on the company’s stock. In the first quarter report released by the company, the firm found record performances over many of Union Pacific Corporation’s (NYSE: UNP) efficiency metrics, leading it to adjust its estimates on future growth.
Separately, on the same day, Evercore ISI raised its price target on Norfolk Southern (NSC), a leading U.S. freight transportation company, from $295 to $325 following Q1 results. The firm kept an In Line rating on the stock. The firm told investors that it made the adjustment to keep the Norfolk Southern (NSC) price target aligned with the proposed Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) merger terms. Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) agreed to acquire Norfolk Southern for $85 billion in July 2025. The deal approved by shareholders in late 2025 currently awaits regulatory approval, with an anticipated closing date in early 2027.
Founded in 1862, Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) is a premier North American railroad company. The Nebraska-based company serves as a critical link in the global supply chain by connecting Pacific Coast and Gulf Coast ports with key gateways in the Midwest and Eastern United States.
4. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 381
Harvard Management Company’s Stake: $156.92 Million
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is among the Harvard University Stock Portfolio: Top 10 Stock Picks.
On April 24, 2026, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)’s Amazon Web Services (AWS) secured an agreement with Meta to deploy tens of millions of AWS Graviton processor cores. With this collaboration, Meta becomes one of the world’s largest Graviton customers. The company will utilize the chips to power its next-generation agentic AI workloads. While GPUs remain the standard for training, Meta intends to employ Graviton5 for CPU-intensive tasks like real-time reasoning, code generation, and multi-step orchestrations. Nafea Bshara, Amazon’s Vice President and distinguished engineer.
Meta’s expanded partnership, deploying tens of millions of Graviton cores, shows what happens when you combine purpose-built silicon with the full AWS AI stack to power the next generation of agentic AI.
Earlier, on April 14, 2026, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)’s AWS also announced the launch of Amazon Bio Discovery. The artificial intelligence application allows scientists to run complex computational workflows without writing code. In doing so, Amazon Bio Discovery can help speed up early-stage drug discovery.
Founded in 1994, Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) operates across e-commerce, digital content, advertising, and cloud computing. Its online and offline stores offer both in-house and third-party products, while its AWS division runs one of the world’s largest data center networks.
3. Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 109
Harvard Management Company’s Stake: $180.25 Million
Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) is among the Harvard University Stock Portfolio: Top 10 Stock Picks.
On April 27, 2026, UBS, an investment research firm, raised its price target on Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) from $259 to $260. The firm’s analyst, Stephen Ju, maintained a Buy rating on the stock. Having priced in the geopolitical risks, UBS remains a buyer of the shares. Based on the analyst’s research note, the firm anticipates the near-term uncertainty from the Iran conflict to have a notable influence on consumer confidence and travel demand in the second and third quarters. The analyst further added that while 2026 bookings were revised downward, normalization is expected by 2027.
Deutsche Bank analyst Benjamin Black adjusted the price target on Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) from $5,713 to $210 on April 21, 2026. Benjamin kept a Buy rating on the stock. The adjustment follows Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)’s 25-to-1 stock split. Additionally, after going through the first quarter report, the analyst noted mixed travel signals alongside possible European softness as a lingering issue, creating downward pressure on the company’s stock price.
Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) provides online travel and related solutions through its brands: Booking.com, Priceline, Agoda, KAYAK, and OpenTable. The company is based in Norwalk, Connecticut, and was founded in July 1997 by Jay Scott Walker.
2. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 312
Harvard Management Company’s Stake: $236.82 Million
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is among the Harvard University Stock Portfolio: Top 10 Stock Picks.
The Malaysian Ministry of Digital and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) announced the launch of Microsoft Elevate on April 24, 2026, deepening the country’s AI partnership with the company. This national initiative supports the AI Nation 2030 vision by providing AI training to educators, small businesses, civil servants, and veterans. Expanding on previous programs that skilled over 1.53 million Malaysians, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) adopts a whole-of-nation strategy to ensure digital inclusion. The pilot phase that began in January 2026 has already reached 80,000 learners. The partnership concentrates on the practical use of AI applications to strengthen Malaysia’s position as a regional technology hub.
In more recent news, Barclays maintained an Overweight rating and $600 target for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), on April 27, 2026. The firm hailed the company’s revised OpenAI agreement as workable for both. It further pointed out that the new agreement between the company and OpenAI secures Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) revenue through 2030 and IP rights until 2032, thereby providing long-term stability.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is a global technology company that develops and sells a wide range of software, cloud services, devices, and business solutions, serving both individual users and enterprise customers worldwide. Its flagship products include Windows, Microsoft 365, Azure, LinkedIn, and Xbox.
1. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 288
Harvard Management Company’s Stake: $252.87 Million
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is among the Harvard University Stock Portfolio: Top 10 Stock Picks.
On April 24, 2026, BMO Capital raised its price target on Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) from $400 to $410. The firm’s analyst Brian Pitz reiterated the Buy rating on the stock. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is all set to report its Q1 2026 earnings on April 29, 2026, following a significant 116% growth in its stock value over the past year. The growth was notably driven by the company’s cloud business segment alongside a high demand for its proprietary TPU chips and aggressive AI partnerships. Adjusting the company’s price target ahead of the results announcement, BMO Capital Analyst cited the stock as a Top Pick and labelled it as the best investment for the firm to tap into the AI growth opportunities. The analyst further noted that the company is consistently expanding its leadership positions across the AI stack.
In another development, on the same day, Bloomberg reported that Google, owned by Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL), has plans to invest up to $40 Billion in Anthropic PBC, an American artificial intelligence company. With this investment, Anthropic secures critical infrastructure for its successful Claude Code software while bolstering Google’s TPU ecosystem.
Founded in 2015, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is a holding company that operates Google services such as search engines, ad platforms, Internet browsers, devices, mapping software, app stores, video streaming, and more. The company also offers cloud infrastructure and platform services, collaboration tools, and other services for enterprise customers, as well as healthcare-related services and internet services.
While we acknowledge the potential of GOOGL to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than GOOGL and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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